This is a pretty decent game. Its fun to play and very entertaining. There is a lot of stylized violence, the main character is a relentless, merciless, terrible person. The missions are often centered around revenge, drugs, assassination, and other criminal acts. In a few cut-scenes the enemy characters beg for mercy, shortly before being killed in very graphical ways. There is a lot of very strong language including c**t, f**k, s**t, and pretty much every variation in between. There are some sexual implications, but not much is shown. Women are often very scantily clad. Although it is a very fun game, it is not for kids.
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Saints Row 2
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Brutal GTA-like gangster game -- not for kids.
In this game kids can: battle others, kill humans (with blood), live vicariously, play in a virtual world
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
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What to watch out for
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of Saints Row 2 was written by Chad Sapieha
Parents need to know that this game isn't intended for children. It features extreme violence in the form of bloody murders carried out with guns, bats, blades, cars, and a variety of other potentially lethal implements. It's also a stage for excessive profanity, drug and alcohol use, and intense sexuality, including missions that require the player to move the controls in rhythm with specific sexual acts. What's more, unlike some other games in the genre, the protagonist never shows hesitation or remorse. Indeed, he or she (players can choose to play as either a man or a woman) often deliberately chooses the most violent means possible of carrying out missions -- declaring such methods "more fun" at least once -- and appears to take pleasure in homicide.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about criminal behavior. What do you think drives a person to become a gangster? Do you think that the bloodthirsty, merciless gangsters seen in this game are authentic? Or do you think real gangsters are more complex, that they engage in most criminal acts out of a perceived sense of need or honor? It seems unlikely that characters like those that appear in the game could be dissuaded from continuing their brutal ways, but can you think of anything that could be done to help real gangsters change their lifestyle?
More on Saints Row 2
What’s the Story?
SAINTS ROW 2, like its predecessor, is an adult game not meant to be consumed by younger players. Its gangster-themed play, which takes place in a free-to-roam game world, features intense violence, profanity, and sexuality. The protagonists murder for fun and are concerned with only one thing: increasing the presence and influence of a gang called the Saints in the town of Stilwater. That said, it can be entertaining for older players with a taste for the sort of dark humor found in adult-oriented gangster films, such as those made by directors Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie. There's a dash of offbeat comedy in the words and actions of the game's main characters that manages to keep them on the right side of likeable, despite their criminal nature. The bulk of the action involves hijacking cars and driving through a large city en route to criminal missions that range from trafficking drugs to ferrying prostitutes to dispatching rival gangs.
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Is It Any Good?
If it sounds a lot like the Grand Theft Auto(GTA) games, that's because it is. But it has several traits that distinguish it from Rockstar Games' popular franchise, for both better and worse. Example: Whereas GTA protagonists typically have complex motives and are sometimes conflicted about their evil acts, Saints Row 2's main characters are basically one-dimensional bad guys. Their only driving force is personal gain and the growth of their gang. It would have been nice to play as a character with just a hint of scruples. Still, Saints Row 2 does do some interesting things in character creation. Players have the ability to customize the appearance of their avatar, changing body type, facial features, race, and even gender. Playing as a tough as nails woman gangster with several hardboiled men under her command is a strange -- but not unappreciated -- step towards gender equality in a genre in which women more often than not are relegated to the role of prostitute or nagging girlfriend.
Other differences between Saints Row 2 and its competition in the sandbox gangster category are essentially just small, evolutionary steps forward for the genre. For instance, players can pick up random objects like cinder blocks and barrels and use them as weapons. They also have to be wary of some non-player characters, who are capable of defending themselves with cans of mace and tasers, which can immobilize your gangster for long seconds. While features like these won't sell a game on their own, they do help give this dark, adult-oriented criminal fantasy its own distinct flavor. (Saints Row 2's primary rival at the moment is Grand Theft Auto IV, another gangster game targeted at mature players.)
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 10/14/2008, price $59.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs)
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs)
Our Members Say
See all 12 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title off for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
A Very fun game to play!
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
As a twelve year old i play a LOT of M games this is one of the games that can be put off for kids under 12, my parents dont care what i play as long as i repeat or do anything thats in the game
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
GREAT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im a kid and i think this is a fine game i like it theres swearing such as c*nt f*ck sh*it a** but if your kids start to use this type of language take it away i recommend renting it to see the content and then decide
- I rate this title off for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
I played It before
I played It once and I never used the gun feature I was just exploring around the city. My nanny's son ryan said I could play. He told me to punch the guy at one of the stores because he was saying bad things about the the role model there is also pimp guns be-be guns 9 millimeter guns and more I never played it again. I rated it "AO" For Adults only I guess they make these games just for money.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
Its over all a good game
We want our kids to be happy right? And they can still be happy without you losing sleep if you read this and understand. My oldest son is Twelve, he has the game,and he says that he likes it for being able to so many fun things in the game, not for the drugs and murder, and sex. I have played it and it's not bad compared to what goes on in the real world, most of the disgusting, vile, terrible things that go on in the real world are never even spoken of in this game. and the things that do, they probably have already been exposed to. And i know what you're thinking , it's that even if they have been exposed to it before why should they be exposed to it even more. Well you're answer is, they really shouldn't, but, they know that it is wrong, and i know that it rarely happens in the game. So I hope that I have changed your point of view because i put a lot of effort into making our children happy.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 100% | of parents say kids find it easy to play |
| 100% | of parents say they notice product placement |
| 100% | of parents feel the site is safe |
| 50% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
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